COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

Abstract: A computer peripheral device (10) serves as a telephone handset in a telephone mode of operation, and as an audio control center in a voice control mode of operation.

Description: COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention generally relates to an accessory for a computer and, more particularly, to a communications device that serves either as a telephone handset to enable a human operator to communicate over a telephone line connected to the computer, or as a control center to enable the operator to communicate by voice with the computer. Description of the Related Art Computer operators working at home or in the office are interrupted periodically by telephone calls, requiring them to divert from their work to answer each call. Often, the operator must turn attention away from a monitor to find the ringing telephone and pick up its handset. Such unproductive activity is commonplace even when the computer itself is connected by modem to a telephone line over which are conducted digital signals which constitute a facsimile message, electronic mail, or information coming from or going to a data bank. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the Invention It is a general object of this invention to advance the state of the art of computer peripheral devices. Another object of this invention is to make computer workers more productive. Still another object of this invention is to share a telephone line conventionally used for transmitting facsimile messages, electronic mail, or data bank information with voice signals. Yet another object of this invention is to allow a computer operator to remain at his or her workstation while answering a telephone call. An additional object of this invention is to provide a computer peripheral device which functions not only as a telephone handset, but also as a computer audio control center. Features of the Invention In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in a communications device for a computer connected to a telephone line. The device includes a housing accessible to a human operator; means, e.g., a microphone, for converting sounds spoken by the operator into outgoing voice signals; and means, e.g., a speaker and/or headphones, for converting incoming voice signals into sounds heard by the operator. The device also includes an interface operatively connected to the housing, the computer and the telephone line, as well as control means for conducting the outgoing and incoming voice signals to and from the telephone line in a telephone mode of operation in which the housing serves as a telephone handset, and for conducting the outgoing and incoming voice signals to and from the computer in an audio control mode of operation in which the housing serves as a computer control center. Thus, the operator while working on his or her computer can, in a telephone mode of operation, learn of the presence of an incoming telephone call (either by hearing an audible alarm emitted from the housing, the interface, the computer or elsewhere, or by seeing a visible graphic symbol on the computer screen, e.g., a flashing telephone icon) , and answer the telephone call (by speaking directly into the microphone on the housing and by hearing sounds emitted from the speaker or headphones) — all without leaving the computer workstation or diverting his or her attention from the monitor. The telephone line which heretofore conducted digital signals constituting facsimile messages, electronic mail or data bank information is now also employed to conduct voice signals. In another mode of operation, the device functions as a computer control center, wherein voice commands uttered by the operator are conducted via the microphone to the computer to control various functions and/or to input data. In this audio control mode, the computer emits voice signals reproduced by the speaker or headphones on the housing to be heard by the operator, thus completing the audio control system. The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a communications device in accordance with this invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of this invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of this invention; and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the device of FIG. 1 according to still another embodiment of this invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally identifies a communications system including a portable housing 12 and an interface 14. The interface includes an external connector 16, preferably an RS232 connector, for direct connection to a computer, as well as a socket for reception of a plug connected to a telephone line 18. The interface 14 is either hard-wired to the housing 12 by a cable 20 (see also FIG. 2) , or is connected by a wireless link with the aid of antennae 22,24 (see FIGs. 3 and 4), as described in detail below. As also shown in FIG. 1, the housing 12 includes a microphone 26 operative for converting sounds uttered by a human operator into outgoing electrical voice signals, a speaker 28 and sockets 30 for headphones, each operative for converting incoming electrical voice signals into audible sounds to be heard by the operator, a manually actuatable control key 32 operative for selecting at the operator's option whether to listen to the sounds emitted by the speaker 28 or the headphones, and a keyboard 34 having multiple, manually actuatable keys for placing a telephone call or selecting various functions. Turning now to FIG. 2, electronic control circuitry within the interface 14 is depicted. Thus, incoming voice signals on the telephone line 18 are digitized and processed in a telephone line interface module 36. Thereupon, the digitized signals are conducted to a microprocessor or microcontroller 38 and to an audio controller 40, having an auxiliary audio input and an auxiliary audio output, prior to being conducted along cable 20 to the speaker 28 (via an amplifier) or the headphones 30, as selected by control key 32. The sounds uttered by the operator are detected by the microphone 26, conducted along cable 20 to the audio controller 40 and, after being digitized and processed, to the microcontroller 38 and the interface module 36. The digitized signals can be output to the interface connector 16, to the telephone line 18 or to the auxiliary output of the audio controller 40 depending upon the mode of operation. FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment analogous to that of FIG. 2, except for the following differences. Rather than a hard-wired cable 20, a wireless link is established between the housing 12 and the interface 14. To this end, a radio frequency transceiver 42 is mounted within the housing for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals via antenna 22 to antenna 24 on the interface. The audio controller 40 of FIG. 2 is configured as a radio frequency transceiver 44, and the operation of the FIG. 3 embodiment is as described for the FIG. 2 embodiment FIG. 4 depicts still another embodiment analogous to that of FIG. 3, except for the following differences. The control key 32 is depicted in FIG. 4 and is connected to a key controller 46 which, in turn, is connected to a radio frequency transceiver 42 in FIG. 3. Thus, operation of the control key can be remotely communicated to the interface 14. In a telephone mode of operation, as discussed above, the computer operator, once alerted to a telephone call, can answer via the microphone 26, and hear via the speaker 28 or headphones 30. Such outgoing and incoming voice signals are conducted via the telephone line 18, or over auxiliary audio lines. In a voice control mode of operation, the computer operator can utilize the microphone 26 and the speaker 28/headphones 30 to communicate with and control the computer itself. It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a computer communications device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims. What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: I C L A I M: 1. A communications device for a computer connected to a telephone line, said device comprising: a) a housing accessible to a human operator, and having means for converting sounds uttered by the operator into outgoing voice signals, and means for converting incoming voice signals into sounds audible to the operator; b) an interface operatively connected to the housing, the computer and the telephone line; and c) control means for conducting the outgoing and incoming voice signals to and from the telephone line in a telephone mode of operation in which the housing serves as a telephone handset, and for conducting the outgoing and incoming voice signals to and from the computer in an audio control mode of operation in which the housing serves as a computer control center. 2. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the means for converting the incoming voice signals includes a speaker and headphones; and further comprising means on the housing for selecting one of the speaker and headphones. 3. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the interface is connected to the housing by a conductive cable. 4. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the housing and the interface each includes a radio frequency transceiver, and wherein the interface is connected to the housing via a wireless, radio frequency link. 5. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the housing includes a keyboard having multiple, manually actuatable keys. 6. The device according to Claim 1; and further comprising audio controller means for conducting audio input signals and audio output signals to and from the computer. 7. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the interface has an RS232 connector for direct connection to the computer. 8. The device according to Claim 1, wherein the housing is a lightweight, portable unit movable relative to the computer.

Inventors: FREADMAN TOMMYCA, FREADMAN, TOMMYCA
Applicants: FREADMAN TOMMYCA, FREADMAN, TOMMYCA
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04M11
IPC codes: H04M1, H04M11